History of the Peloponnesian War

Furthermore, there were a few exiles from Megara[*](4.74.2; 6.43.) who, because of their misfortune, were fighting against the Selinuntians,[*](6.4.2.) who were Megarians. So far as the rest were concerned, their part in the expedition was, as compared with the others, of a more voluntary character.

The Argives,[*](Five hundred according to vi. 43.) on the one hand, were led to take part, not so much by their alliance, as by their hatred of the Lacedaemonians, and out of regard each for his own immediate advantage, associating themselves, Dorians against Dorians, with the Athenians who were Ionians; the Mantineans, on the other hand, and other Arcadians went as mercenaries, for they were accustomed to go against any who at any time were pointed out to them as enemies, and at this time were led by desire of gain to regard as enemies the Arcadians who were with the Corinthians.[*](cf. 7.19.4.) The Cretans and the Aetolians were also induced by pay; and in the case of the Cretans it so fell out that, although they had assisted the Rhodians in the founding of Gela,[*](cf. 6.4.3.) they went, not with their colonists, but against them, and of their own free will, for hire. Some of the Acarnanians served, it is true, for gain, but the greater portion were moved by friendship for Demosthenes and goodwill[*](cf. 3.7.1, 3.94.2, 3.105.3, 3.107.2, 3.114.1.) toward the Athenians, whose allies they were, to come to their aid.

All these were within the boundary of the Ionian Gulf;

but of the Italiots the Thurians and Metapontians took part in the expedition, being reduced at this time to such straits by party crises that they could not do otherwise; and of the Siceliots the Naxians and the Catanaeans. Of Barbarians there were the Egestaeans, who had brought the Athenians to Sicily, and the greater part of the Sicels; and of those outside of Sicily a certain number of Tyrrhenians,[*](cf. 6.88.6, 6.103.2.) who had a quarrel with the Syracusans, and some Iapygian mercenaries.[*](cf. 7.33.4.) So many were the peoples who took part in the struggle on the side of the Athenians.